Sony XBR-65X900A 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz 3D LED UHDTV (2013 Model)

This Television has a great picture, bright colors, dark blacks, sharp images, and a really easy to use interface However, I'm not sure that it is enough better than a good 1080p television to be worth the premium price. Also, Comcast transmits such a lousy image that this TV makes no difference when watching regular cable TV. The highest highlight is the 3D picture, truly amazing.

I waited patiently for seven years to upgrade my (then-new) Sony KDL40-XBR3. As then, I wanted to spend some dough and acquire a future-enabled TV that I can enjoy for years even as new content and technology becomes available. My XBR3 is a native 1080p display and when I got it, nobody provided native 1080p content. Now, it’s everywhere and the XBR3 still does a fantastic job rendering 1080p.So I wanted a 3D TV that has all of the high-end video and audio processing capabilities I will ever want over the next 5-10 years. This means no active goggles so I need passive 3D. And it means something that can handle the HDMI 2.0 standard, which was finalized only last October. And I don’t want to add a separate surround sound system so I want at least the great pseudo-surround experience I always had with the old XBR3. Finally, my viewing distance is limited to no more than eight or nine feed so I need something no larger than 50-55” or so. Oh, and I really wanted to do this for about the same cost as my XBR3 so forget the $9,000 OLED I saw recently.After surfacing every January to look around, I postponed for one year and then another. Finally, when I looked again in January 2014, I found that LG, Sony and Toshiba had 4K passive 3D UHDTVs available. But the Sony alone had top video and audio quality ratings. Even the cheaper Sony XBR55X850A added to the line later in 2013 omitted the 65W speaker system included in the 900A, and the others didn’t compete with the Sony video processing quality recited in the reviews I found.Every passive 3D UHDTV uses Film Pattern Retarder (FPR) technology to provide left and right 3D images simultaneously with no frame delay between L and R eyes. This suppresses ghosting compared to active schemes with non-zero fame delays as I understand it.But I was concerned about rumors that the Sony XBR55X900A provides a 3D image that is limited to 540p resolution (allegedly not the case for the larger 65-inch display in the same Sony line). With the new HDMI 2.0 support provided by recent Sony firmware upgrades, the video bandwidth should support 1080p 3D images (one L HD image and one R HD image packed into a single 4K frame) but rumor says that the FPR was too tightly squeezed in the smaller 55-inch display to permit reliable production of 4096-line retarder films (somebody heard it from somebody who knows a Sony engineer, etc). I tried but could find no real evidence of this except for a You-Tube video purporting to demonstrate the deficiency with a test pattern – but this video predates the recent Sony firmware upgrade. I was not persuaded but worried because I want HD 3D.Finally, seeing no other real contender, I ordered my new Sony XBR55X900A, relying on the Amazon Return Policy to bail me out if these rumors proved true.This new Sony has exceeded my most optimistic expectations.First thing I did was install the new firmware (upgraded to PKG4.201AAA) released on 07Feb14. Sony Tech Support website says that the PKG4.001AAA released on 23Dec13 supports the October 2013 HDMI 2.0 spec and supports 3840 x 2160p at 59.94/60Hz YCbCr 4:2:0 8bit and 4096 x 2160p at 59.94/60Hz YCbCr 4:2:0 8bit, which should handle data rates necessary for 1,920 x 1080p passive 3D images at 60 fps (but I know of no available content). The original Sony specs (before the firmware upgrade) limit 3840 x 2160 to 30fps and limit 4096 x 2160 to 24fps.Next, I ran a few basic tests using the Spears & Munsil Test DVD (with 3D) in my Oppo 103 Blu-Ray Player, which has native 4K output capability and certainly can handle 4K frame-packed 3D images. I could not detect any frame delay between L and R images using the test pattern. I did not make the effort needed to test for ghosting with a light meter but was unable to see any ghosting even out to the sides or standing up near and above the screen. Some Reviews had reported more of a vertical ghosting tendency than lateral but I saw none at any of the positions we reasonably use. This amazed me. Even if there is ghosting, if I can’t find it, I’m good.Regarding the rumored 540P 3D limitations: I can see individual hairs and other HD-type features (razor sharp edges, etc) in the 3D images provided on my new Sony. Looks like 1080p to me – I don’t care what the early test results may have shown (before the December 2013 firmware upgrade). I admit that the 3D image (up very close) appears to have double-wide scan lines (one L and one R most likely but I did not test that assumption) and I’m no expert but dual lines in a 4K display is what I expected in a 1080p image anyway. No matter – my Sony provides the best color and other image processing qualities available today for 2D images (don’t rely on my opinion alone – check out the Consumer Reports review of October 2013). And the sound, like my old XBR3, is awesome.This Sony can also display Native DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) 4K (4096 x 2160) but a 60fps refresh rate requires the December 2013 firmware upgrade. I’m unaware of any available content.I know of no significant available native 4K content (beyond demo disks) but my Oppo 103 will up-convert anything to 4K, as does the Sony itself. One review suggested that the Sony up-conversion quality is at least as good as the Oppo. I couldn’t say and I don’t care – the 4K content will come in its time and I am ready for it now. In five years, we all will be buying passive 3D HD displays, I expect. I am ready for that with this Sony XBR55X900A.I suggest a careful review of the Consumer Reports review published in late October 2013 and made available as “Sony XBR-55X900A: Consumer Reports Shares a Review with AVS“ on the web. However, be aware that the review predates both the finalization of the new HDMI 2.0 specification and the announcement by Sony of the new firmware PKG4.001AAA that supports this new standard.Finally, one disappointment. My old XBR3 has a wonderful matte screen that eliminates reflections beautifully. I miss that with the new Sony XBR55X900A, which could stand in as a boudoir mirror. I suspect that the light polarization provided by the film pattern retarder technology would be scrambled by a matte overlay (but I have not researched it) so this to me is likely a trade-off for a great passive 3D experience. Also, the passive 3D image is reduced in intensity by the polarized viewing lenses, which limits utility of this Sony in bright rooms.

I am posting this update as of November 15, 2015.This TV FAILED at 19 months! And as others have posted, Sony has never made it capable of natively showing 4k content.Shame on Sony!A disastrous product; Sony should be forced to recall these units.I apologize for the review below.The Sony 55XBR900A is a beautiful TV. Ordered on a Friday, it arrived via CEVA "white glove" delivery the following Thursday morning. Amazon concierge services were helpful and available prior to delivery. The delivery guys unboxed the TV, assembled the stand, placed the TV where we wanted it, and allowed me to hook up the TIVO, PS3 and Cat5 cable connections before powering up the unit; they then helpfully performed the initial setup before getting to a factory set out of the box spectacular picture. Pros: Picture and sound are nearly perfect; the beauty of the built in side mounted speakers is that you don't need a separate sound bar, although a high quality 5 or 7 channel surround system trumps the small surface mounted speakers. Good connective features including 4 HDMI inputs; cable or antenna COAX in; Optical Digital Audio out; WiFi and Wired Networking; headphone out; one component and composite in. Easy setup and lots and accessible settings; Factory settings perfectly fine for most use; quick web search will find other reviewers optimum settings; 3D is as good or better than movie house; uses lighter more comfortable passive glasses that don't require batteries (I have read that the 3D on the 65" inch version is better; maybe, but the 55 seems perfect to us). PS3 and TIVO both recognized as supporting 3D. upscaling to 4K seems to work well; YouTube 4k is pretty amazing Netflex, Amazon, Hulu Plus, YouTube apps all work well initial firmware upgrade completed in under 10 minutes, no big deal able to play and view files from other home networked attached devices (photos and video stored on a router connected drive) Cons Remote feels cheap, is not back lit and offers no keyboard support Bluetooth crippled and doesn't seem to support keyboards or other remotes expensive to buy even at current lowered prices before new model is introduced somewhat glossy screen not optimum in well lit room no dedicated computer input (i.e., no DVI, VGA or sound, only HDMI) should have been a design option to hide or remove side speakers; not everyone will like the look of the side speakers; I do, but ymmv. limited 4K programming as of 3-30-14; 3D is still somewhat gimmicky and unnecessary. free 4K mastered discs, Netflix and Hulu offers expired and no longer availableWe replaced a 2006 Sony KDL46XBR2; while that remains the most visually beautiful TV Sony ever built, the picture improvements over the last eight years makes this a worthy upgrade. A major con is that after viewing the 55XBR900A, your eyes are so utterly spoiled you won't want to watch any other TV.